At least 25 villages in Fulgazi, Parshuram and Sonagazi upazilas of Bangladesh’s southeastern Feni district have been submerged after heavy rainfall and water from upstream in India caused severe breaches in the embankments of the Muhuri and Chhoto Feni rivers.
Vast areas, including Jangal Ghona, Sahebnagar, Gadanagar and Derpara in Fulgazi, the western parts of Parshuram, and southern Sonagazi, were underwater on Wednesday, with homes, paddy fields, fish farms and roads inundated.
The previous day, the Bangladesh Water Development Board said the Muhuri River was flowing 137 centimetres above the danger level.
Under intense pressure from the current, several weak points of the embankments had given way, it added.
Authorities said they had begun emergency repair work using geo-bags and sand sacks to contain the damage.
However, residents said the situation remained dire, with many people marooned and taking shelter on elevated roads and in school buildings.
Many others, unable to reach official shelters, were spending the nights in the open with their children and livestock.
Locals alleged that the embankments collapsed at the same spots every monsoon, but no permanent solution had been implemented.